Luca De Benedictis is a Professor of International Economics and Network Analysis at the University of Macerata's Department of Economics and Law. His research focuses on international trade empirics, including trade specialization measurement, network analysis, and causal models. He has authored numerous articles on topics like gravity models, migration impacts, and historical trade networks. His work spans journals such as the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society and Network Science . He teaches courses in International Economics and Network Analysis. His research interests include economic geography, policy evaluation, and applied econometrics. Notable projects include analyzing the Erasmus Program's inclusivity, Roman road networks' legacy, and immigration's effect on trade. De Benedictis has secured funding from EU initiatives like COSTNET and GeComplexity, focusing on network data science and economic systems. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Italian Economic Journal and Journal of Historical Network Research . His work bridges theoretical models with empirical applications in trade, migration, and policy.
Giuseppe Fontana is an Associate Professor of Political Economy (SECS-P/01) at the University of Sannio (UNISANNIO) in the Department of Law, Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM). He has maintained an active research profile for over two decades, establishing himself as a significant contributor to Post-Keynesian economics and monetary theory. His research interests include: Post-Keynesian Economics Monetary Theory and Endogenous Money Macroeconomic Policy and Financial Stability Financialization and Socioeconomic Impacts Economic Methodology and History of Economic Thought International Trade and Exchange Rate Theory Stock-Flow Consistent Modeling Fontana's scholarly trajectory demonstrates a consistent focus on heterodox economic approaches, particularly Post-Keynesian theory. His work evolved from theoretical contributions in the early 2000s to increasingly policy-relevant analyses of contemporary economic challenges. His recent publications show special attention to the Eurozone crisis, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European economies, and the theoretical foundations of monetary production. He frequently employs stock-flow consistent modeling to provide comprehensive analyses of macroeconomic phenomena, challenging mainstream economic frameworks with alternative theoretical perspectives. Fontana has established important collaborations with scholars like Emiliano Brancaccio, Riccardo Realfonzo, and Marc Lavoie, demonstrating his integration within international networks of heterodox economists. His work has been published in leading heterodox economics journals including the Cambridge Journal of Economics, Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, and Review of Political Economy, as well as in edited volumes with major academic publishers like Palgrave Macmillan and Edward Elgar.
Marco Brogna is an Associate Professor of Economic Geography at the Department of Methods and Models for Economy, Territory, and Finance at Sapienza University of Rome. He has been serving in this capacity since March 2007, following his position as a Confirmed Researcher of Economic Geography from 2001 to 2007. His academic work is deeply rooted in the Faculty of Economics, where he has held significant administrative roles including Delegate of the Dean for Teaching and President of the Coordination Committee for Degree Programs. Professor Brogna's research interests span Tourism Development , Sustainable Tourism , Local Economic Development , Economic Geography , Territorial Planning , and Accessible Tourism . His work consistently focuses on the intersection between tourism, regional development, and sustainable practices. He has particular expertise in analyzing tourism dynamics in the Lazio region and Rome, examining how tourism impacts local economies and how territories can be developed to maximize tourism potential while maintaining sustainability. His recent publications reveal a clear trend toward analyzing post-pandemic tourism recovery, sustainable development models, and the evolving relationship between tourism and local communities. His research demonstrates a progression from traditional tourism studies toward more complex analyses of tourism's role in territorial development, with increasing focus on digital influences, accessibility, and sustainable practices. His work spans both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, often using case studies from Rome and the Lazio region to illustrate broader principles of tourism development. Professor Brogna has been actively involved in thesis supervision for undergraduate and graduate students, encouraging students to apply one semester before their expected completion date. He has led numerous research projects funded by the Lazio Region, including innovative research on tourist industry management, tourism training, and sustainable tourism development. His most significant projects include being responsible for the 2021 research on 'Innovative Management of the Tourist Industry' and the 2020 National Report on Open-Air Tourism. Professor Brogna has also been instrumental in organizing academic events, including the 'Giovedì del Turismo' conference series at Sapienza University since 2015, as well as numerous other conferences on tourism development, sustainable tourism, and territorial planning. His work extends beyond academia into practical applications through his involvement with Rome's strategic tourism planning and various governmental advisory roles.
Dino Pedreschi is a Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pisa, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science (DI-UNIPI). He co-leads the Pisa KDD Lab, a joint research initiative between the University of Pisa and the Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Information Science and Technology, one of the earliest labs focused on data mining and knowledge discovery. His research spans Big Data Analytics , Social Network Analysis , Human Mobility Analysis , Privacy-by-Design , Explainable AI (XAI) , and ethical data mining . He is a pioneer in privacy-preserving data mining and has contributed significantly to understanding societal impacts of AI and big data. Recent publications highlight trends in explainable AI , fairness-aware data mining , urban mobility modeling , and socio-economic nowcasting , reflecting a strong interdisciplinary focus combining computer science, social science, and policy. Notable scientific awards include: Google Research Award on Privacy (2009) University of Pisa Ordine del Cherubino (2017) Pedreschi has played leadership roles in major conferences such as ECML/PKDD (Co-Chair 2004), ICDM (Vice-Chair 2005), and ICDE (Vice-Chair 2014). He founded the Business Informatics MSc program at the University of Pisa to train interdisciplinary data scientists. He has been a visiting scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, CWI Amsterdam, UCLA, and the Barabási Lab at Northeastern University. He actively contributes to European research initiatives including SoBigData++, FAIR, and TAILOR, and has advised on AI policy, including testimony before the Italian Parliament on AI and labor markets. He is a key member of the Pisa KDD Lab, a leading research group in data science and AI ethics, fostering collaboration between academia and public institutions.
Sveva Vitellozzi is a Research Fellow at the Department of Economics and a Teaching Tutor in the Departments of Management and Political and Social Sciences at the University of Bologna. She holds a PhD in Development Economics from the Universities of Trento and Florence. Her research focuses on behavioral development economics, applied microeconomics, and mental health economics with a strong emphasis on gendered perspectives. Her work examines themes such as gender earnings gaps in Kenya, the impact of natural shocks on women’s empowerment in Bangladesh, and mental load disparities in Italy. Collaborative projects include studies on masculinity norms and mental health in Italy, and gender differences in time use and mental health in Ghana. She also investigates the effects of climate stress on intimate-partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa and depression’s economic implications in Mexico. Her publications appear in journals like European Economic Review and World Development , with working papers exploring policy framing for gender equality and breadwinner strain effects on economic decisions in Kenya. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary research teams and is affiliated with the CEPR.
Armando Rungi is a Professor of Economics at IMT School for Advanced Studies in Lucca, Italy. He teaches econometrics, international economics, and macroeconomics to PhD students. In addition to his academic role, he serves as a research fellow at the Observatory on Foreign Firms in Italy and has consulted for the European Commission, OECD, and UNCTAD on international trade and investment issues. His research focuses on international economics, industrial organization, applied econometrics, and statistical learning. Recent work emphasizes the organization of multinational enterprises, global value chains, labor markets, cyber-resilience of supply chains, and the integration of econometric and machine learning tools for policy evaluation and predictive analysis. His recent publications explore topics such as the impact of trade agreements, multinational enterprises' strategies, and the application of machine learning in predicting firm behaviors and evaluating economic policies. A common theme is the analysis of supply chain resilience, corporate ownership structures, and the effects of globalization on firms' competitiveness and productivity. No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided information. No advisees or grant details are listed in the text. His professional activities include consulting roles and research collaborations. He is affiliated with the Observatory on Foreign Firms in Italy, which evaluates the impact of multinational companies and strategies to attract foreign investment in Italy.
Alberto Brugnoli is a Full Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Bergamo, Italy, where he has served since 2020. He holds the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, International Cooperation and Sustainable Development and serves as Delegate for International Cooperation in Developing Countries at the University of Bergamo. His academic career spans over 30 years with progressive appointments from Researcher to Full Professor. Brugnoli's research focuses on International Development Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Local Development, Regional Governance and Policy, Migration, Municipal Financing, and Trade. His work demonstrates a strong international dimension through collaborations with institutions like Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil), McGill University (Canada), OECD, and the European Commission. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward sustainability, decarbonization, and economic transition topics. His research output reveals a progression from traditional economic policy topics toward contemporary challenges of sustainability, climate change, and social development. The most recent publications (2022-2025) predominantly address decarbonization, sustainable economic transitions, and regional development strategies, reflecting current global economic policy priorities. Award by the Scientific Committee of the First Report on Finance of the Rosselli Foundation (2012) Award by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy (2009) Recognition from Università Bocconi for editorial contributions (1999) Brugnoli has advised numerous international research projects and has extensive teaching experience in Development Economics, Regional Economics, and International Cooperation. His leadership extends to serving as President of the Master's Degree Program in Human Rights, Migration and International Cooperation (2018-2022) and various delegate roles at the University of Bergamo.
Martin Ruhs is a Full-time Professor of Migration Studies and Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. Previously, he served as Professor of Political Economy at the University of Oxford. His academic appointments include significant leadership roles at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. Ruhs's research focuses on the economics and politics of international migration with a strong international comparative dimension. He is particularly interested in the links between migration and wider public policies, and the tensions between diversity in national institutions and supra-national policy-making. His work addresses key questions and dilemmas in public policy-making across Europe, North America, and Asia. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on migration policy dilemmas, with particular emphasis on irregular migration, public perceptions of fairness in asylum systems, ethical considerations in migration governance, and the relationship between migration and welfare states. His research combines theoretical rigor with practical policy implications, often examining how institutional frameworks shape migration outcomes. Co-editor of the World Migration Report 2018 (IOM) Co-author of a 2022 European Parliament study on rights of irregular migrant workers Regular contributor to major media outlets including New York Times, Financial Times, Guardian, and Irish Times Ruhs currently provides policy analysis and advice for various national governments and international institutions. His supervisory work includes mentoring PhD students Andreea Ferent, Julie Fournier, and Hirotaka Fujibayashi. His ongoing research projects include 'Protecting Irregular Migrants in Europe (PRIME)' (2023-26), freeEUmove, MEDAM, DYNAMIG, MigResHub, AFAR, Dilemmas, and research on EU Member States' protection policies for Ukrainian refugees.
Maurizio Conti is a Full Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, University of Genova . He holds a PhD from the University of Essex and an MSc from the University of Warwick, with additional affiliations as an IZA Research Fellow and board member of the Italian Association of Labor Economics (AIEL) . Educational Background : PhD in Economics (Essex, 2004); MSc Economics (Warwick, 2000); Laurea in Business and Economics (Genova, 1998). Research Focus spans labour economics , industrial economics , and transport economics . Key topics include: Impact of labour market institutions (e.g., employment protection, unions) on firm investment in physical/human capital Transport infrastructure effects on productivity, house prices, and regional development Policy evaluation in regulated industries and public procurement Recent Publications analyze high-speed rail impacts, cooperative industrial relations, and firm dynamics under regulatory frameworks, with methodologies ranging from quasi-experimental designs to cross-country comparative analyses. Scientific Recognition : IZA Research Fellow (since 2006) Organized conferences like the Genoa Labour Workshop and participated in COMPIE and NERI networks Teaching includes courses on MICROECONOMICS , Economic Policy , and Transport Economics , with a focus on applied analysis, productivity measurement, and regulatory frameworks.
Stefano Leonardi is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti at Sapienza Università di Roma. His research focuses on Algorithm Theory, Algorithms and Data Science, and Economics and Computation. He leads the ERC Advanced Grant project AMDROMA, exploring algorithmic mechanisms for online markets. He has held roles as Conference Chair for STOC 2021, WWW 2015, and FUN 2018, and coordinates the Sapienza School of Advanced Studies (2016-2018). His work spans approximation algorithms, online algorithms, and mechanism design. Awards include the ERC Advanced Grant and EATCS Fellowship. His research interests emphasize foundational algorithmic problems in web-based markets, leveraging rigorous design and large-scale data analysis. Recent projects include ALGADIMAR (PRIN 2019-2022) for digital market algorithms. He chairs the Highlights of Algorithms conference series and serves on program committees for top venues like EC, ICALP, and SODA. His lab focuses on web algorithmics and data mining, addressing challenges in online labor markets and fair division. Leonardi's academic contributions include over 100 publications, with recent work on fair algorithms, prophet inequalities, and mechanism design in auctions. He has pioneered methods for submodular optimization, online learning, and multi-agent systems. Grants and awards reflect his leadership in bridging theory with real-world applications, particularly in digital economies. Grants: ERC Advanced Grant (2018-2023), PRIN ALGADIMAR (2019-2022) Leadership: Chair of ACM STOC 2021, WWW 2015, and 9th FUN Conference Labs/Teams: Laboratory on Web Algorithmics and Data Mining Key Projects: AMDROMA (algorithmic mechanisms), ALGADIMAR (digital markets)
Sara Zaniboni is an Associate Professor in Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Bologna's Department of Psychology 'Renzo Canestrari'. Her research focuses on workplace diversity, age-related issues, and organizational inclusion. She holds a PhD and has led international research initiatives, including the 'Age in the Workplace Meeting' conference. Her work bridges psychological theory with practical applications, addressing challenges like age discrimination, mental health, and work design. She has contributed to EU and national grants (e.g., PRIN, PNRR), and serves on editorial boards such as Work, Aging and Retirement . Awards include the 2015 outstanding paper award and 2018 outstanding author contribution award. She has held visiting roles at institutions like ETH Zurich and the University of Essex, emphasizing global collaboration. Her research explores how organizational policies can enhance diversity outcomes, reduce stereotypes, and support older workers. Key areas include uncertainty mindset development, workaholism effects, and workplace accommodations for people with mental health challenges. She advocates for policies promoting sustainable careers and inclusive work environments. Key Projects: LeverAge (EU network), Age in the Workplace Meeting Grants: PRIN, PNRR, EU grants International Collaboration: Visiting positions at 6+ universities, including ETH Zurich Editorial Roles: Work, Aging and Retirement , among others
Marco Letta is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Social and Economic Sciences , Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on economic development , regional economics , policy evaluation , and applied econometrics , with a strong emphasis on climate change impacts, food security, and machine learning applications in economic policy. University: Sapienza University of Rome Department: Department of Social and Economic Sciences Email: marco.letta@uniroma1.it His recent work explores the climate migration nexus , household resilience , and policy targeting , often leveraging machine learning and empirical econometric methods . Publications span topics such as local inequalities during the COVID-19 crisis , temperature shocks in rural Tanzania , and machine learning applications in state aid regulation . Notable trends in his research include: Integration of machine learning with traditional econometric techniques Focus on climate resilience and migration patterns Analysis of policy impacts in developing economies Investigation of local mortality estimates during global crises Development of cross-country empirical frameworks Current projects include assessing agrifood system vulnerabilities and refining counterfactual policy evaluation methodologies.
Agar Brugiavini is a Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice's Department of Economics with significant institutional roles including Member of the Steering Committee of the Ca' Foscari International College, Ethics Committee member, and Coordinator of the Master's Degree Programme in Data Analytics for Business and Society. Her research focuses on: Economics of aging and retirement systems Social security policy evaluation Health economics and long-term care Labor market dynamics for older workers Impacts of demographic changes on social policies Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on pandemic impacts on labor markets, social care systems, and elderly populations, with methodological approaches spanning econometric analysis of survey data and cross-national comparative studies. The research shows consistent focus on vulnerable populations and policy-relevant outcomes. Dr. Brugiavini maintains active research collaborations as evidenced by multi-country studies using SHARE survey data and participates in key academic leadership positions within her institution.
Fabio Sabatini is a Full Professor of Political Economy at Sapienza University of Rome and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). His work focuses on the intersection of communication technologies, social capital, and political behavior. He teaches Political Economy and Economics of Sustainable Development, and actively engages in public discourse through Substack newsletters like The Civic Economist . His research explores how digital media shapes societal values, economic outcomes, and political preferences. Notable themes include the behavioral impacts of social media, the role of social capital in crises, and the geopolitical tensions between the US and EU under Trump's administration. Sabatini critiques policies that undermine academic freedom and democratic institutions, frequently analyzing authoritarian trends in global governance. He maintains an extensive publication record with over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on topics like terrorism radicalization, disaster politics, and digital economy effects. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, often addressing contemporary policy challenges. Sabatini's academic networks include collaborations with institutions like the European Commission and IZA. His Substack articles and social media activity reflect a commitment to public engagement, translating complex economic concepts for broader audiences while critiquing populist policies and advocating for evidence-based governance.
Alexia Delfino serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Bocconi University, with affiliations spanning CEPR DEV & OE, J-PAL, IZA, IGIER, LEAP, CESIfo, and BAFFI. She maintains a dual research presence as Visiting Research Fellow at STICERD. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (2020). Delfino operates at the intersection of Development, Organizational, and Behavioral Economics, employing experimental and survey methodologies to investigate how social norms, institutions, and identity shape labor market disparities and organizational productivity. Her fieldwork spans both developed and developing economies, with particular emphasis on gender dynamics in entrepreneurship and workplace culture. Recent projects examine trauma's impact on economic decision-making and value alignment in corporate environments. Her publication trajectory reveals a consistent focus on gender economics and institutional analysis, with increasing methodological sophistication in field experiments and cross-national comparisons. The 2024-2025 publications demonstrate expansion into historical data analysis and team dynamics while maintaining core themes of gender barriers and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Recognition includes: UniCredit Foundation Best Paper Award on Gender Economics (2021) Research funding reflects policy relevance through partnerships with major development institutions: J-PAL Global Economic Affairs and Policy & Performance Evaluation Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Exploratory and Research Grants LEAP and Weiss Fund support for gender-focused field experiments IGA-Rockefeller Research and Impact Fund for trauma economics research She leads international collaborations examining reskilling interventions in Italy, lactation infrastructure in Kenya, and teenage job experimentation in Switzerland, demonstrating strong cross-institutional research networks with Harvard, LSE, and World Bank affiliates.
